Sunday, January 16, 2011

Toshiba X305 - Powers On, Charge Light but Dead no Video

(Pic 1) bare motherboard on bench

This comes from a cousin via UPS from Indianapolis and promised him I'd take a look at it. The Toshiba X305 is a nice looking machine but still has the flawed nVidia chip design. Disassembling the unit to be able to work on the motherboard without having to have all the connections was a challenge, but eventually I got the unit to work on the bench. Using the Power Jack and external video, it powered on with external video.

This tells me two things. One the GPU is OK but the video memory is defective or not addressing all the lines of the GPU properly. Picture 2 with the stripes definitely tells me that it is the video memory! Now attempting to repair this issue is similar to the reflow heat process used on an earlier DV series video issue(with video). Picture 3 shows the second screen attempting to boot from network adapter but the characters are incorrect and pixelated. Picture 4 shows the video daughterboard.

After attempting repair using the reflow process the video still has lines, varying from one pattern to another, but still lines are displayed. What's next?The choices are:Attempt to downgrade the video memory from 512mb to 256mb by removing the memory from thebottom side of the daughterboard. If the defective ram is in the second bank of ram the problem would be solved. If not the card will have to be replaced. And cost becomes an issue since most of the cards on eBay are overpriced. Even noticed a dead video card for this model selling for $149~!!!

(Pic 4) The culprit nVidia daughterboard

Replace the daughterboard to have a working laptop. So this week I will have to do some selecting from the various items available.

Note: Video shown on external monitor, but not on laptop LCD.

Updates to follow.

Update 1Preparing to reball the video card since the card itself is hard to find, and expensive. A real time consuming test process because the laptop has to be partially assembled to test each repair/reball attempt.

Update 2Reballing is not an option. Since the solder balls are smaller than equipment available.

13 comments:

Hi, been visiting the blog for ages now, thanks its brilliant.I have just done my first reflow on an DV6000 and it seems to be a success,running for 2 weeks now using an IRDA T-862++ and am in the process or getting things together to start practicing reballing.I paid to join the "Laptop repair training college" in the USA (im in UK)to try and gain more knowledge but which consisted of just vidio from youtube (some guy in his kitchen with a what i would call a chicken incubation light and a glass of wine) and copied stuff off the internet that i have already found years ago.Anyway i have done many successfull repairs with info from your blog so thanks once again and you are the only one i have found on the internet blogging (HELPING) this way without it being a criptic anogram or having to be a code decipherer to understand what the hell they are talking about

I will have to either remove memory from the video card, downgrading it to 256mb of video ram. Or purchase a new card.

There is a minor issue as far as knowing if memory addressing attempting to access previous amount (512mb). If so I will have to replace ram, with memory from a Dimm memory card. The memory used is Hynix brand.

This becomes more complex and may not be capable for less experienced techs. But the possibility of saving $100+ is worth the attempt.

hii got toshiba a100-psaa8ethe problem was the = and - of the cables of the adapter outs were stuck together for 2 secthen after that when i try to boot it i saw a dim light on the power switch with nothing on the screenthe fan is not runningthe battery is chargingwhat will be the problem

Michael: yes the same can be done to a motherboard but there are additional considerations. See the post on DV Series with lines. IT is not something that is for the hobbyist, and many thing that you have to pay attention to, or ruin the board.

Phillip:You have a shorted chip on the front end. I cannot tell which one because I am unable to see or test. That's when you bring out your meter and test for shorted chips or caps.

Im new to this forum and i wondering if you could help me, apologies if i am in the wrong section.

I have a toshiba satellite P200 - 1JV laptop with a suspected power problem. It posts and runs with a charged battery but does not post or run with the AC adapter plugged in, this does not charge the battery.Whilst the laptop is plugged in to the mains the blue light appears blinking on the laptop but when you press the power button nothing happens.I took it once to a friends and charged my battery on his laptop, i then tried the charged battery on my laptop with the ac adapter plugged in and the blue light showed solid blue. The amber charge lights shows but it doesn't charge the battery.Once the ac adapter is removed from the laptop the blue light and the amber charge light remain on, they only go out when i momentarily disconnect the battery.The light on the adapter stays on showing the adapter is working.Any ideas or suggestions as to what is wrong, it seems to be beyond me..Thank You

Welcome ISPAActually it is not a forum, but a blog of some of the repairs that I have done & doing. Other techs chime in and also offer advice. I do answer questions the questions I know, but can only guess at others, or give tips where to look.

In your case it seems that a FET is out in the power section. It may be visible defect, or require trouble shooting the circuits, but it definitely in the front end.

Gaper: I am not an amateur, and recognize the differences. The block pixelated images shows me that it is a memory addressing error. And knowing what bit can skew a character set addressing tells me where to look.

About Me

Hoosier Newman is known as the Laptop Doctor in Charlotte. More of a hobby that got out of hand than a business. Since I am thoroughly familiar with computers it is a deviation from the ordinary. See my profile in my blog for additional notes ...